FL2 or D3 , had experience of both in snow. FL2 was good enough but the D3 felt more sure footed. It also had the benifit of locking center & rear diff's which made a big difference, both cars on Goodyear Wranglers.

FFRR has the same set-up as my old D3 (center & rear locking diff's) so performance should be pretty similar (except more power for bigger fun)  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

I haven't driven the FL2 in snow yet and I am sure it will be good when I do. However, I do know that my Defender 90 TD5 with diff lockers and big BFG mud tyres was unstoppable in snow. The little Series One with it's lighter weight, skinny wheels and knobbly tyres 'aint half bad either!

My daughter has a BMW....even with winter tyres it gets nowhere when there is a sniff of snow. John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

JST wrote:

... Defender 90 TD5 with diff lockers and big BFG mud tyres was unstoppable in snow.

Yep, that's the problem with heavy cars in the snow - you just can't stop them ...

pab wrote:

JST wrote:

... Defender 90 TD5 with diff lockers and big BFG mud tyres was unstoppable in snow.

Yep, that's the problem with heavy cars in the snow - you just can't stop them ...

You noticed it too pab? I couldn't agree more.

Can't really vote as i've not driven most of the cars listed.
However, my old original Mini was suberb in the snow despite the lack of ground clearance. Even though i lived rural, I never got stuck.
I used to hate driving on treated roads in those days, I'm sure I could hear the salt eating away at the rear subframe  Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

You can stop a defender quicker in the snow than the freelander. Use the gear box to stop the defender, do that in the freelander and it will go bang

It would be interesting to put that to the test, as I'm not convinced it's as clear-cut as you imply. The Defender may have diff locks, but the Freelander's Haldex system and electronics (including HDC), plus lower weight, should make it a close run thing. And the Freelander's gearbox doesn't seem particularly fragile, even given the DMF - I don't think it would go bang unless very severely abused! I think my money would be on whichever one had the better tyres.

I meant to say if you have the defender in low range you can go down through the gear to slow it down, you need to of done it to understand

I have owned cars with low range going back 20 years, so have done it and do understand. I agree that low range would definitely help (the lack of a low range is the one thing I don't like about the Freelander), but I would still like to see a test of low range against HDC. If nothing else it would help to show whether LR were right to omit low range from the Freelander. (Except they weren't, so it wouldn't, if you see what I mean!)

I dislike Hdc, even when you slow it right down its still to quick on some hills in the ice and snow, I had this off road on a steep hill while off roading. Makes your arse tense up a little

Well this has indeed proved an interesting debate. I must say I am looking forward to trying the FL2's abilities coupled to winter tyres.

If the snow is bad enough to stop that combination then it is time to switch the alarm clock off and stay in bed  60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

Agreed, but one can use the brakes in conjunction with HDC to slow things down a bit more, and HDC continues to work with the clutch out. That said, I've yet to try HDC on ice. Hopefully the next Freelander will have low range - but I fear not given that LR seem to be marketing it as a town car, not the 'proper' 4x4 it's more that capable of being.

I've tried HDC on ice and snow. It's fine on the flat and small declines.
However, it's a very different story on steeper hills, even cominbed with gentle braking.
It just kept going under it's own weight/momentum.
A change to winter tyres improved things no end. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

I have yet to see how the LR2 performs out in the snow, but my defender with no TC or ABS put me in a field a couple of times... I did just drive back out though... and a bumper only costs 25 quid...

Yes agreed there, defender has cheap bumpers! Freelander has breakable expensive parts

I will be able to answer this shortly...We bought the Fl2 in june so no winter experience yet with it. But before the Fl2 we had a Subaru Forester so will see how it compare...

We get -15 to -35 celcius in winter here and of snow so its going to be interesting to ride the Fl2. 1973 Land Rover Series 3 88''
2010 Land Rover Lr2